I’m definitely outside the target age range for Beastly Birds, but I love animals, and this turned out to be a really enjoyable little read.

I picked it up partly because the shoebill on the cover caught my attention. I only recently learned about shoebills, so I was particularly interested in finding out more about them. I already knew quite a bit about some of the other birds featured, including ostriches and emus, but there were still plenty of facts that were new to me.

What I particularly appreciated was that the book doesn’t just tell young readers about unusual or harsh bird behaviour; it also explains why the birds behave that way. Some of the parenting strategies are genuinely surprising, and the book is a good reminder that nature isn’t always gentle. Sometimes it really is about survival of the fittest, the prettiest, or even the first-hatched!

The visual presentation also works well for the intended audience. I especially liked the little signs around the birds’ necks that summarise what kind of parent each bird is. It’s a simple, memorable way of introducing the information and makes the book feel fun rather than overly instructional.

This was a quick and easy read for me while working through my ARC stack, but I’m glad I made time for it. Even as an adult who normally gravitates more towards mammals and big cats, I came away having learned some new things about birds. I think young readers who are interested in animals, especially children who enjoy unusual or surprising nature facts, would have a lot of fun with this one.

Thank you to Alix Wood, Rosen Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley fore an honest review. Nature can be cruel and in this book abut birds, kids will learn how cruel it can be but also learn how parenting differs.